Clarks Summit Council President Gerrie Carey speaks to Clarks Summit Elementary School students during an Arbor Day celebration in the schoolyard Nov. 8. - Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Clarks Summit Elementary School fourth-grader Evan Gonzalez helps fill in a hole initially dug too deep for trees during an evergreen planting ceremony hosted by the school and the Clarks Summit and Clarks Green shade tree commissions. Although the shade tree commissioners and borough workers and officials did the majority of the manual labor, Evan was picked to ceremoniously toss five shovels full of dirt into the hole when he raised his hand to volunteer during a presentation made to the class. - Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Clarks Summit Municipal Arborist Joshua Arp crawls in the dirt to cut a piece of twine that holds a sheet of burlap around one of the evergreen trees planted at the Clarks Summit Elementary School. - - Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Working a tree into a hole in the Clarks Summit Elementary School yard are volunteers, from left, Jon Thomas and Pete Giermanski, both of the Clarks Green Shade Tree Commission, and Joshua Arp, Clarks Summit municipal arborist. - - Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

CLARKS SUMMIT — The schoolyard at Clarks Summit Elementary is now a little greener than before. And it’s all thanks to the joint efforts of the Clarks Summit Shade Tree Commission, borough officials and workers, the Clarks Green Shade Tree Commission, the school’s fourth-grade classes and a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Everyone gathered at the edge of the playground for an Arbor Day celebration Wednesday, Nov. 8, at which time the groups’ representatives spoke to an assembly of fourth-graders about the importance of taking care of the environment. The students then returned to class and the adults worked to finish planting two rows of evergreen trees in pre-dug holes.

The trees are now the responsibility of the students, who will continue to track and maintain them throughout the school year.

Clarks Summit Council President Gerrie Carey speaks to Clarks Summit Elementary School students during an Arbor Day celebration in the schoolyard Nov. 8.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_ABJ-Trees-1.jpgClarks Summit Council President Gerrie Carey speaks to Clarks Summit Elementary School students during an Arbor Day celebration in the schoolyard Nov. 8. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Clarks Summit Elementary School fourth-grader Evan Gonzalez helps fill in a hole initially dug too deep for trees during an evergreen planting ceremony hosted by the school and the Clarks Summit and Clarks Green shade tree commissions. Although the shade tree commissioners and borough workers and officials did the majority of the manual labor, Evan was picked to ceremoniously toss five shovels full of dirt into the hole when he raised his hand to volunteer during a presentation made to the class.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_ABJ-Trees-2.jpgClarks Summit Elementary School fourth-grader Evan Gonzalez helps fill in a hole initially dug too deep for trees during an evergreen planting ceremony hosted by the school and the Clarks Summit and Clarks Green shade tree commissions. Although the shade tree commissioners and borough workers and officials did the majority of the manual labor, Evan was picked to ceremoniously toss five shovels full of dirt into the hole when he raised his hand to volunteer during a presentation made to the class. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Clarks Summit Municipal Arborist Joshua Arp crawls in the dirt to cut a piece of twine that holds a sheet of burlap around one of the evergreen trees planted at the Clarks Summit Elementary School.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_ABJ-Trees-4.jpgClarks Summit Municipal Arborist Joshua Arp crawls in the dirt to cut a piece of twine that holds a sheet of burlap around one of the evergreen trees planted at the Clarks Summit Elementary School. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Working a tree into a hole in the Clarks Summit Elementary School yard are volunteers, from left, Jon Thomas and Pete Giermanski, both of the Clarks Green Shade Tree Commission, and Joshua Arp, Clarks Summit municipal arborist.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_ABJ-Trees-6.jpgWorking a tree into a hole in the Clarks Summit Elementary School yard are volunteers, from left, Jon Thomas and Pete Giermanski, both of the Clarks Green Shade Tree Commission, and Joshua Arp, Clarks Summit municipal arborist. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

By Elizabeth Baumeister

ebaumeister@timesleader.com

Reach Elizabeth Baumeister at 570-704-3943 or on Twitter @AbingtonJournal.

Reach Elizabeth Baumeister at 570-704-3943 or on Twitter @AbingtonJournal.